PUR Perfect Binding with the Morgana DigiBook Range

With the increase in demand for higher quality digitally printed publications, there is also an increased demand for high-quality finishing.

Perfect binding of high quality publications has long been the standard method of production, but there are some limitations when binding digitally printed documents, with the most common method using EVA glue.

PUR binding provides the strongest, most flexible adhesive binding solution available, especially when working with digitally printed documents or coated papers, and offers several advantages over other binding methods currently on the market.

With PUR, the book blocks are milled on the spine to enable the paper to absorb adhesive, providing a binding strength that hot-melt glue systems simply cannot compete with. The books are trimmed on three sides to produce a finished result.

When inks, coatings, or digital print toners are present in the spine area, these can compromise the strength of hot-melt perfect binding. PUR adhesives are resistant to this, and form a super-strong bond with all weights and finishes of paper stocks. In addition PUR works well with synthetic and recycled-content stock.

In recent years the focus has been on the creation of smaller, more compact binding solutions suited to very short runs of books.

The DigiBook range of PUR perfect binders from Morgana Systems (Booth 226), part of the Plockmatic Group, have been designed for this growing short run application.

To date, four different models have been produced in Morgana’s DigiBook line, ranging from the entry level DigiBook 150, to the automatic cover feeding DigiBook 450. Features such as touch screen operation, and automatic format changes provide for equipment that is both easy to learn and to use.

The hermetically sealed PUR application system for a spine and side gluing with automatic glue cut-off are typical of the design of a system intended for short to medium runs. It means that the glue system is readily available for even the shortest production run, and everyday cleaning tasks are minimized. The gluing heads are the same across the product range, so the bind quality is identical from the 150 books per hour model, through to the 450 books per hour machine.

In operation, features such as the book block measuring system make it ideal for short run production. The book block measuring capability sets the machine’s heads automatically, meaning users can switch from one size of book to another very swiftly and easily.

At PRINT 17 two of the models in the range have been given some additional features. The new DigiBook 300, which can produce up to 300 books per hour, has been changed to a single phase unit, much more suited to many smaller shops and print departments where access to three-phase power is either limited or expensive. The DigiBook 200 and 300 units are now able to handle covers to 39", giving the ability to produce landscape 11x17" finished books with spines of up to 2" thick.